The Towpath.

More on the long distance running stuff today.
The Ancholme canal near me is hardly used, but I had read of a newly laid footpath heading North that the council had commissioned, so after consulting the map to find out how far I could go I ventured to the starting town with my trainers on.  The plan was to go directly North until I reached the Humber then simply head back the same way.
There were plenty of folk fishing along the part in the town where I started, but the car park was relatively empty so I'm guessing they were all locals.  It was a bit cold, but no wind so a double t-shirt would be OK without having to resort to the jacket.  I set off on the grandly named 'Ancholme Way' which a graffiti covered notice board told me about.  I didn't stop to read the detail, but there was some guff about local points of interest.  The path was a well laid 10ft wide cinder type of surface which was ideal for me with my trail shoes on.  However, after 2 miles if abruptly ended and I found myself on a grass path - what would have been the towpath I guess.  A mile or so later and it's a rutted grass path, deteriorating further into a very rutted, sticky, slippery grass path which slowed my down considerably.  However, eventually this returned to a 'normal' grassy path where (I believe) tractors had no need to use it.  It squeezed in between the canal and a miscanthus field for a couple of miles before the last mile or so of decent grass path as I reached the lock gates at South Ferriby.  My Garmin informed me I had travelled 8.9miles, so with that in mind I turned and headed back.
The miscanthus path had not been to my liking due to overhanging hedges as well as some of the fallen miscanthus itself, so I decided to take a detour into Horkstow and Saxby to extend my route a little thereby avoiding the jungle.  I estimated this would add another 1 or 2 miles at most.  I felt reasonable good all the way back, although it was a relief to eventually get on the gritty footpath and put the slippery grass behind me.
All told, it was 19.3 miles without stopping so I'm happy with that as my 26 mile race looms in less than 4 weeks time.

Page Turner.

There was a program on the radio about opening lines to books, how important they are and how the authors arrive at them.  I feel the same way about each blog post I write here.  Not that anyone reads them, but you never know.
I also feel that I should write a book, thereby confirming the theory that everyone thinks they should write a book.  It will probably confirm the other theory that most people never do.
When my father died and I was helping my mother clear out his things, we came across a part finished book.  My mother knew it existed, and he had actually tested a few paragraphs on her.  It was mainly autobiographical but had not got very far.  Maybe I should pick up where he left.

Update.

Running training is progressing with a 13 + miler every weekend for the last 4 weeks - so that's not bad, but I maybe need to do a bit more cycling to reduce the impact on the legs.

Update over.

Running Commentary.

So, the previous post was actually started back in November, and because I have been running at lunchtimes the chances to update this blog have disappeared.  I even have to do work during the day!

Anyway, there's much to report on the ultra front.  I've been doing my research of course, and am formulating a plan.  So far, I have increased weekly mileages a bit (did quite a lot over Christmas) and trying to get a weekly long one in.  Furthest is 14 miles so far but I hope to do a bit more this weekend.  I did  9 mile off road run Christmas week and really enjoyed it, so I'm now erring towards trail type of runs, and to this end have entered a 26 mile trial run around Belvoir Estate in February, which is only in about 6 weeks.  This should give me a springboard to tackle the next milestone, which is s 50K (30 miles) and I' a bit torn on when to do this.  I have to plan a family holiday in, so need to fit it around that, and then the next step is a 50 miler which I have partly penciled in as the Round Rotherham trail race in October - it's fairly local and is really a walk which runners can take part in so no pressure.  This means I need a 50K probably in June or July but might consider one earlier.  I suppose it depends how I feel after the 26 Belvoir outing.

I say!

I say catalogue, you say catalog.  Actually, they both say the same thing, but the spelling is quite different.  Its not much of a problem, but one of many slight oddities between the UK and (mainly) the US.  I watched a Youtube channel yesterday, and they had a problem with 'jumper' in the US where it means something else, and there's countless other different meanings of words - Pants spring to mind for trousers (US) v. undergarments (UK);  vacation is the default US word for the UK's holidays so it can be quite confusing sometimes.  On my first visit to the US, I struggled to find the toilets because I should have been looking for the restroom and I don't think anyone can argue that 'restrooms' is a suitable word to describe somewhere you go and relieve yourselves... or is that just me being a stuck up limey?  Of course I'm not.

Anyway, on more personal news.. I'm contemplating extending my running skills into the 'Ultra' running arena.  Not that I've really been a marathon runner, although I have done a few and the thing that attracts me is the physical challenge of doing it rather than anything else.  There's no way I can compete, and I'm well experienced in being in the middle of everything - not too bad, but not too good either.  I did once win a trail 10K in Willingham woods, but it was a local race organized by a local charity with a few fun runners taking part, (although I tell everyone it was a stellar field).
So, back to the ultras.  It appears that anything over a marathon distance is classified as an ultra, and the advice is to start with a 50K which is only a few Ks longer than the 42K marathon - easy eh?  50 milers seem to be the next target with 100 milers thereafter.  As with all sports, the ideal is to gradually build up distance, time and pace not necessarily in that order, but you get the picture.  A golden rule that is often repeated s the 10% rule - never increase your mileage by more than 10% per week, although its more like a guideline as practical aspects always get in the way.
Watch this space